Label feeding and holding means for sewing machines



July m, 1951 G. J. PLOPPER 2,569,18fi

LABEL FEEDING AND HOLDING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 2, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 10, 1951 G. J. PLOPPER 2,560,135

LABEL FEEDING AND HOLDING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 2, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 10 1110644222 w. GE'01?GE' JPwPPER affozmey y 1951 v G. J. PLOPPER 8 LABEL FEEDING AND HOLDING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 2, 1949 -3 Sheets-Sheet 5 v Menfoz GEORGE JPMPPER %/M7%Q4 azzome Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES oFFICE LABEL FEEDING AND HOLDING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES George J. Plopper, Utica, N. Y., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company,

Elizabeth,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to machines adapted to sew labels to garments and other workpieces.

The invention has as its primary object to provide a label sewing machine having a combined workand label-holding clamp and improved means for placing labels into the clamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved and simplified means, designed to be applied to a conventional cyclically operated group stitching machine, to adapt the machine for feeding labels into sewing position and for holding the labels while they are being attached to the work.

Another object of the invention is to provide, for a group stitching machine, an improved work and label-holding clamp having label feeding and holding means in which the label feeding means is reset automatically, released manually and operates by gravity to place labels into the label holding means.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a left side view of a portion of a conventional group stitching ma-' chine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2' is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational- View, partly in section, of the improved label feeding and holding device, as viewed from the front end of the machine, with thelabel-feeding arm in retracted position anda label in the label chute.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a latch, which normally holds the label-feeding armretracted, as manually released and the label-feeding arm as having swung downwardly by gravity and having fed the label into the labelholding clamp.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view looking from the front end of the machine, showing the label-feeding arm being automatically retracted, or reset, during the label sewing operation.

Fig. 6 is a. vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 63 of Fig. 1, with the label-feeding arm latched in retracted position as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a detail perspective view of a supporting plate forming a part of the label-holding clamp and showing elements of the label-feeding mechanism carried thereby.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective View of the label chute and a bracket for supporting it from an arm pivotally connected to the frame of the work-clamp.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a portion of a workpiece with a label attached thereto as by the present machine.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, this invention is disclosed as embodied in a cyclically operated group stitching machine, known to the trade as a Singer tacking machine. This machine is generally similar to the machine disclosed in United States Patent of C. M. Horton, No. 1,051,998, February 4, 1913, to which reference may be had for a more complete disclosure of the stitch-forming, thread-cutting and start and stop mechanisms, the specific details of which form no part of the present invention. The clamp-actuating mechanism of the present machine is substantially the same as in the above mentioned Singer tacking machine and differs from that disclosed in the Horton patent only in the contour of the cam grooves which give to the work clamp its lengthwise and crosswise movements. In the present machine the workclamp and the work carried thereby are so moved as to cause the stitch-forming mechanism tosew a seam of substantially rectangular pattern, thereby sewing about the marginal portion of a rectangular label, instead of making cross stitches as in the Horton construction.

As shown in-the drawings, the machine comprises a base I having a horizontal work-supporting arm 2 extending laterally therefrom, a standard 3 and an overhanging bracket-arm 4 supported by the standard. A rotary main shaft (not shown) is journaled lengthwise within the bracket-arm and is geared to turn a cam-wheel 5 as shown in said Horton patent. The machine is provided with stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle-bar 6, mounted in the head 4 of the bracket-arm and carrying an eye-pointed thread-carrying needle 1, and a cooperating oscillating shuttle mechanism 8 within the work-supporting arm 2. These elements are actuated from the main shaft by connections common to this type of sewing machine.

Secured upon the upper surface of the arm 2, at the forward end thereof, is a throat-plate 9 provided with a hole It for the passage of the needle. A bar I l is slidingly mounted on the arm 2 and carries, at its forward end, a work-supporting plate 42 formed with a rectangular sewing opening [3 within which the substantially rectangular label-attaching seam is sewed.

Mounted upon the bar II is the foot 14 of a clamp-frame M which carries, at its forward end, label feeding and holding means hereinafter to be described. Pivotally mounted, at l5, to a plate i3 secured to the clamp frame i4, is an arm I! to the forward end of which is secured, by screws 18, the shank of a label-holder supporting bracket i9.

The bar ll, frame l4 and the parts carried thereby are periodically shifted lengthwise of the arm 2 and crosswise thereof in a predetermined sequence to cause the stitch-forming mechanism to sew a seam S around the marginal portion of a rectangular label L to attach the label to a workpiece W, as shown in Fig. 9.

The means for giving the parts their movements lengthwise of the arm 2 comprise a cam groove 20 formed in that face of the cam-Wheel adjacent the standard 3 and arm 4. This cam groove is entered by a stud carried by an arm 2| secured upon one end of a rock-shaft 22 journaled in the upper end of a bracket 23 secured upon the upper surface of the Work-supporting arm 2. The other end of the rock-shaft 22 carries a depending arm 24 which, in turn, carries a block 25 adjustably mounted on an upright pin 26 carried by the rear end of the bar II. The cam groove is formed with alternate stepped eccentric portions 29 and concentric portions 20* which portions act through the parts '21, 22, 23, 24 and successively to shift the work-clamp step-by-step lengthwise of the arm 2 and then to hold it against endwise movement while it is shifted transversely of the arm about the axis of the pin 26 by means now to be described.

Transverse movement of the work-clamp is effected from a cam groove 2'! formed in the outer face of the cam wheel 5. This cam groove is formed with alternate stepped eccentric portions 21 and concentric portions 21 A stud 2 8, carried by the upper arm 29 of a bell-crank lever 29, tracks the cam groove 21 and oscillates the lever about the axis of a fulcrum stud 30 by means of which the lever 29 is fulcrumed to a mid-portion of the bracket '23. The other arm 29* of the lever 29 is of arcuate form and has adjustably secured to it one end 31 of a link 3| the other end of which is connected to an arm carried by a rock-shaft 32 journaled in the arm 2. The shaft 32 is connected, by a member 33, to the clamp bar i l. The connections between the bellcrank lever 29 and the clamp bar H are shown more in detail in the above mentioned Horton Patent No. 1,051,998. Thus the cam groove 21 effects, through the elements 29, 3!, 32 and 33, transverse movements of the work clamp about the axis of the pin 26. The cam grooves 29 and 21 are so related that the stepped eccentric portion of one is disposed adjacent the concentric portion of the other. Therefore as the clamp is shifted lengthwise it is held against transverse movement and when it is shifted transversely of the arm 2 it is held against endwise movement. The work and the label carried by the clamp are therefore so moved relative to the stitch-forming mechanism as to cause the sewing of a substantially rectangular seam as shown in Fig. 9.

The means for holding a label in sewing position comprises a label-positioning plate 34 which is carried by the bracket l9 and. provided with a rectangular label-receiving aperture 35. The plate 34 has an upturned toe portion 34 which facilitates insertion of the work beneath the plate which normally rests by gravity on the worksupporting plate .l2. The aperture 35' overlies and is slightly larger than the aperture It in the work-supporting plate [2. In Fig. 4 there is shown a label L resting upon the upper face of a workpiece W and between the walls of the aperture 35. Cooperating with the plate 34 in holding the label in sewing position is a pair of label presser members comprising vertically disposed shanks 36 and 3'! which are slidingly mounted in a guideway formed in a head [4 carried by the clamp frame 14. The shanks 36 and 31 are formed at their lower ends with offset portions 36 and 37*, respectively, to which are secured label-holding presser-feet 38 and 39. These presser-feet are of opposed U-shape and together form a composite presser member P, Fig. 2, of substantially rectangular form having a rectangular opening 40 of substantially the same size as the underlying opening I3 in the work-supporting plate I2. The presser-feet 38 and 39 are provided with downwardly projecting ribs 38 and 39 each having a serrated lower edge :1: adapted to grip the label when the presser-feet are lowered thereon.

The shanks 36 and 31 and the presser-feet secured thereto are normally depressed by springs 4i and 42, respectively, carried by the clamp frame I4. When the machine is in stop position, as at the end of a sewing cycle, the presserfeet may be lifted, in opposition to the springs, by the manipulation of a manually operated lever 43 fulcrumed at 44 on a bracket 45 secured upon the arm 4. The forward end 43 of the lever 43 engages beneath a collar 46 secured upon a spring-depressed bar 47 mounted for endwise movement in the bracket-arm head 4 At its lower end, the bar 4'5 has secured to it by a screw M an angle bracket 48 to which is secured a plate 69 which, in the stop position of the machine, underlies pins 36* and 3T which are carried by and project horizontally from the shanks 36 and 31, respectively.

The machine is provided with a conventional start and stop mechanism, not shown, by means of which the machine may be started, the workclamp shifted to cause the stitch forming mechanism to sew a seam of substantially rectangular contour around the marginal portion of a label held in the label-holder, and the machine automatically brought to rest at the completion of the stitching cycle. As above stated, this start and stop mechanism may be of the type disclosed in the above mentioned Horton Patent No. 1,051,998.

This invention is concerned primaril with the provision of semi-automatic means for inserting a label into the label-holder when the label presser-feet are elevated. This means comprises an arcuate label chute C arranged transversely of the work-supporting arm 2, to the right of the operator, and consisting of a curved metal plate 50 secured, at is lower end, to the label-positioning plate 34 and having an upturned side flange 5| secured by screws 52 to a downturned portion I9 of the label-holder supporting bracket I9. Adjustably mounted on the plate 50, by screws 53, are opposed side walls 54 and 55 which guide the labels L in their passage down the chute C and into the aperture in the label-positioning plate 34 and beneath the pressure-member P.

Labels L are manually placed in the chute C, substantially in the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, by the operator. Feeding of the label from that position into sewing position is effected by the downward swinging motion of a gravityactuated label-feeding arm 55 pivoted, at 5], upon a vertically disposed supporting plate 58 secured by screws 59 to the forward face of the head 14* of the clamp frame M. The arm 55 ismade up of two parts, 56 and 56 adjustably secured together by screws 50.- To the lower end of the part 56 is-adjustably secured, by a screw 5|, a leg 62 which carries a foot 63 which overlies, and is moved'substantially concentric with, the chute C. Pivotally attached, at 54, to the foot 63 is a shoe 65. This shoe gravitates about the ivot 64 so that the lower forward edge 55 thereof is maintained in contact with the upper surface of the plate between the side walls 54, 55. The forwardend of the shoe 65 is slightly concave, as indicated at to receive the edge of a label L.

The label-feeding arm 56 and the parts carried thereby are normally maintained in the elevated position shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, by a latch lever 65. This lever is fulcrumed at 5'l on the plate 58 and is depressed by a spring 68 to cause the hooked end 56 of the lever to engage beneath a stud 69 carried by the arm56. A stopplate ll], adjustably secured to the front face of the plate 58 by a screw H, has its lower end arranged in the path of movement of the stud 69 and is. adapted to limit the upward movement of arm 56. The latch lever is formed with a depending arm 12 provided with a finger-piece i3 by means of which the lever may be turned about its fulcrum, in opposition to the spring 58 to cause the head 56 to release the stud 59, whereupon the arm 56 and the parts carried thereby swing downwardly by gravity. Stop blocks 14, secured to the rear face of the plate 58, limit the swinging movement of the latch lever 66 and its depending arm 72.

With the label-feeding arm retracted, as shown in Fig. 3, the operator places a label L, either folded or plain, into the label chute G. Then, with a workpiece W placed upon the work-supporting plate l2 beneath the label-positioning plate 34, and with the pressure-feet raised as shown in Fig. 4, the operator presses on the finger-piece l3 and trips the latch 56 out of contact with the stud B9. Thereupon, the arm 55 swings downwardly, by gravity the end 55 of the shoe 65 engaging the proximate edge of the label, and slides the label down the chute and into the label-receiving aperture 35 in the plate 34 and upon the upper surface of the workpiece.

A stop member 15, adjustably mounted on the lower portion of the plate 58, by screws 16, has an offset portion [5 arranged in the path of movement of the arm 56 and serves to limit the downward movement of that arm and the parts carried thereby. To prevent overshooting of the label-as it is injected into the label-holder, the plate 34 is formed at one side with two upstanding'stop-fingers ll, beyond which the label may not pass. The label-holding presser-foot 38 is formed with two clearance apertures 18 for the passage of the fingers I1 when the presser device is lowered upon the label.

After the workpiece has been inserted and the label positioned, as shown in Fig. 4, and the presser-feet have been lowered, the machine is started and the clamp, the workpiece and the label are automatically shifted relative to the stitch-forming mechanism to cause the sewing of the seam S about the margin of the label L to attach it to the workpiece as shown in Fig. 9.

At the completion of the sewing of the rectangular seam the machine makes one or more tying stitches in the same position and is then automatically brought to rest, the threads being severed by the overthrow of the stop motion as is well understood.

During the sewing of the seam S the arm 56 is automatically shifted-from the advanced'position shown in Fig. 4 to the retracted position shown in Fig. 3 in preparation for the next label-feeding operation. This is effected by relative lateral movement between the work-clamp and a fixed abutment plate 19, the shank 19 of which is secured to bracket 48 by the same screw 4! that secures the bracket to the bar 41. Slidingly mounted at the front face of the plate 58 in a sleeve 8| held in bearing brackets 55 is a sliderod 82 one end of which is adapted to engage a rounded cam portion 55 on the part 5% of the label-feeding arm 55. The other end of the sliderod 82 carries an adjustably mounted head 33 adapted, during movement of the clamp from right to left, as seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 and indicated by the arrow X, to be brought into contact with the fixed abutment plate [9. Continued movement of the clamp to the left thereafter causes the cam portion 55' of the arm part 55 to engage the end of the then stationary sliderod 82 which reacts to shift the arm 55 upwardly, as indicated by the arrow Y, until the latch 66* again engages beneath the stud 59. The labelfeeding arm 56 is maintained in this position during the remainder of the sewing operation and when the machine is brought to rest.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that this invention has provided a label sewing attachment including semi-automatic label feeding means, which readily may be applied to conventional group stitching machines, by the mere substitution of one clamp device for another and the addition of the abutment member 19 to the conventional clamp lifting bar 41.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. The combination with a group stitching machine having a. work-support and stitch-forming mechanism; of a clamp device constructed and arranged to hold a workpiece on said worksupport and to hold a label in position to be attached to said workpiece by said stitch-forming mechanism; and means including a label chute arranged transversely of said work-support and a gravity actuated arm having a pivoted portion tracking said chute for feeding a label into sewing position in said clamp device.

2. The combination with a group stitching machine having a work-support and stitch-forming mechanism; of a clamp device constructed and arranged to hold a workpiece on said work-support and to hold a label in position to be attached to said workpiece by said stitch-forming mechanism; a label chute extending transversely of said work-support; means including a pivotally mounted gravity actuated arm having a pivotally mounted gravity actuated shoe. tracking said chute for feeding a label down said chute and into sewing position in said clamp device; a latch device holding said arm in raised position; and a manually actuated finger piece for tripping said latch, thereby rendering said arm effective to feed a label.

3. The combination with a group stitching machine having a work-support and stitch-forming mechanism; of a clamp device constructed and arranged to hold a workpiece on said work-support and having a label-receiving aperture adapted to hold a label in position to be attached to said workpiece by said stitch-forming mechanism; means including a label-guiding chute arranged transversely of said work-support to the right of the operator, and a gravity actuated arm having a gravity actuated pivoted portion movable through said chute for feeding a label into said label-receiving aperture in said clamp device; latch means for normally holding said arm in a retracted position; and manually controlled means for releasing said latch means.

4. In a group stitching machine having a frame and stitch-forming and clamp-feeding mecha nisms carried by said frame; a clamp device supported upon said frame and moved by said clampfeeding mechanism in a predetermined path relative to said stitch-forming mechanism; workholding means and label-holding means carried by said clamp device; a label-feeding means including an arcuate chute adapted to receive individual labels; a gravity actuated label-feeding arm pivotally mounted substantially coaxial with said chute and having a pivoted portion tracking said chute and acting to transfer a label from said chute into said label-holding means; a presser-device carried by said clamp device and adapted to bear upon a label in said label-holding means; a latch engaging a portion of said arm and normally holding the arm in elevated position; and manually actuated means for releasing said latch to permit said arm to descend by gravity.

5. A clamp for a label sewing machine comprising a bar; a work-supporting plate carried by said bar and provided with a sewing aperture; a frame secured upon said bar; an arm pivotally supported on said frame; a label-positioning plate carried by said arm and having a labelreceiving aperture; a label chute carried by said arm and connected to said label-positioning plate; a supporting plate carried by said frame; a label-feeding means including an arm pivotally mounted on said plate and having a portion movable in said chute to position a label in said labelreceiving aperture above said sewing aperture; latch means normally holding said label-feeding arm in retracted position; and means to release said latch means.

6. A clamp for a label sewing machine comprising a bar; a work-supporting plate carried by said bar and provided with a sewing aperture; a frame secured upon said bar; a label-positioning plate supported from said frame and overlying said work-supporting plate and having a labelreceiving aperture above said sewing aperture; a label chute supported from said frame and having its delivery end adjacent to and aligned with said label-receiving aperture; a supporting plate carried by said frame; a label-feeding means including an arm pivotally mounted on said plate: a stud carried by said arm; a label-engaging shoe carried by said arm and movable in said chute to position a label in said label-receiving aperture; a latch normally engaging said stud and hold n said label-feeding arm in retracted position; and manually actuated means to release said latch.

7. A clamp for a label sewing machine comprising a bar; a work-supporting plate carried by said bar and provided with a sewing aperture; a frame secured upon said bar; a labelpositioning plate overlying said work-supporting plate and having a label-receiving aperture aligned with the aperture in the work-supporting plate; an arcuate label chute carried by said frame; a supporting plate carried by said frame; a label-feeding means including an arm pivotally mounted on said plate substantially coaxial with said chute; a label-engaging shoe pivoted to said arm and movable in said chute to engage a label placed in said chute; a latch normally holding said label-feeding arm in elevated position; and means to release said latch to permit said arm to descend to cause said shoe to. shiftthe label into said label-receiving aperture.

8. A clamp for a label sewing machine comprising a bar; a work-supporting plate carried by said bar and provided with a sewing aperture; a frame secured upon said bar; a labelpositioning plate overlying said work-supporting plate and having a label-receiving aperture; a label chute carried by said frame; a supporting plate carried by said frame; a label-feeding means including an arm pivotally mounted on said plate; a label-engaging shoe pivotally mounted on said arm and movable in said chute to engage a label placed in said chute; a latch means normally holding said label-feeding arm in'retracted position; manually actuated means to release said latch to permit said arm to descend to cause said shoe to shift the label into said label-receiving aperture; and means including a slide-rod mounted on said supporting plate and engaging said arm to return it to its retracted position.

9. A' clamp for a label sewing machine comprising a bar; a frame carried by said bar; a work-supporting plate carried by said bar and provided with a sewing aperture; a label-positioning plate located above said work-supporting plate and provided with a label-receiving aperture of greater size than the aperture in said work-supporting plate and centralized therewith; a presser device carried by said frame and adapted to bear upon a label in said label-receiving aperture; and label-feeding means carried by said frame and constructed and arranged to place individual labels in said label-receiving aperture and beneath said presser-device.

10. A clamp for a label sewing machine comprising a bar; a frame carried by said bar, a Work-supporting plate carried by said bar and provided with a sewing aperture; a label-positioning plate located above said work-supporting plate and provided with a label-receiving aperture centralized with the aperture in said work-supporting plate; a presser device carried by said frame and adapted to bear upon a label in said label-receiving aperture; and label-feeding means carried by said frame including a label chute arranged transversely of said bar and frame-and adapted to receive individual labels; a pivotally mounted gravity-actuated label-feeding arm having a pivoted portion formed with a concaved end adapted to engage a label in said chute; a latch for holding said arm in retracted position; and manually actuated means for releasing said latch to permit, said arm to swing downwardly to shift the label from said chute into said label-receiving aperture and beneath said presser device.

11. A clamp for a label sewing machine comprising a bar; a work-supporting plate carried by said bar and provided with a sewing aperture; a frame secured upon said bar; a horizontally disposed arm pivotally mounted at one end on said frame; a supporting bracket secured to the other end of said arm; a label-positioning plate carried by said bracket and having a labelreceiving aperture centralized with said sewing aperture; a label chute carried by said bracket and connected to said label-positioning plate; a vertically disposed supporting plate carried by said frame; a label-feeding means including an 10 arm pivotally mounted on said plate and having a portion movable in said chute to shift a label placed in said chute into said label-f-receiving aperture; and manually controlled means to initiate movement of said arm. GEORGE J. PLOPPER.

10 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rosenthal et al Feb. 4, 1919 Number 

